Is technology taking away key elements of our humanity? Are we losing our empathic touch to the efficiency and reliability of algorithms? Many people struggle with these questions while, on the very contrary, technology has the potential to make as more humane than ever. Putting people at the center of technical advances, we can let machines do what we were never well equipped for. Thus freeing our time and energy to focus on creativity, compassion, and innovation; core human values. For example, the unprecedented technological progress we’re experimenting is an invaluable tool to confront prevalent issues such as poverty, lack of access to health care and education or climate change. In this session, we will discuss the role of human core elements in the face of technology and examples of how technology is being used to enhance people skills rather than eliminate them.

Concepción Galdón is IE University’s Social Innovation Director/Academic Lead. At IE she has the mandate to promote Social Innovation academic content across Schools and Programs, encourage more research in Social Innovation and reach out to organizations and partners interested in Social Innovation. Concepción is also President of the social Venture Puentes Global, which she co-founded in 2009. She´s a member of Ashoka Spain’s Venture Board and of the board of Harvard Kennedy School Spain Alumni Network.

Concepción is an Economist by Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. She holds a Master in Public Administration and International Development by Harvard Kennedy School. Concepción holds a PhD in International Economy and Development by Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Her PhD research focuses on the use of technology in social entrepreneurship. She has published papers in peer-reviewed journals and chapters in books. She writes contributions for mass media regularly and is a speaker at international conferences.

Her past professional experience includes the foundation of an NGO, UN’s Procurement Service, Santander Bank’s Latin America Division and Liberia’s Government under Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Nobel Peace Prize 2011.